Prep football roundup
By From staff reports
Published in Sports on September 11, 2011 12:05 AM
Varsity football
North Duplin 41, Hobbton 12
* NEWTON GROVE -- North Duplin scored 41 unanswered points and rallied past Hobbton 41-12 on Friday night.
The Rebels snapped a 10-game skid against Tri-County 1-A opponents.
After falling behind 12-0 in the opening minutes of the second quarter, the Rebels got their offense together and got moving. Mitchell Thigpen broke free for a 49-yard touchdown run. Quarterback Tyler Royal got the call on the visitors' next possession and raced 52 yards to the end zone.
Devin Oliver capped North Duplin's best offensive quarter of the season with a 23-yard scoring scamper in the final minute of the half.
"Tyler sparked us with his run that gave us the lead," said Rebels head coach Hugh Martin. "Devin and Mitchell each had a long one during the comeback and we really were clicking at that point."
Royal capped a stellar night with an 85-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to open the second half. Oliver added two more rushing scores to complete the Rebels' tally. Oliver finished with 111 yards on eight carries and three touchdowns.
The Rebels won the game despite not completing a pass.
"We played well once we got going but it took us a little while," said Martin. "We need to work on our focus and our consistency early in games so that we don't get behind."
North Duplin travels to Holly Ridge Dixon on Sept. 16.
North Lenoir 28, South Lenoir 25
* LaGRANGE -- North Lenoir earned its first win of the season with a 28-25 victory over county archrival South Lenoir on Friday night.
The Hawks got off to a fortuitous start on the defensive side of the ball and recorded a safety for a 2-0 lead in the first quarter. North Lenoir added to its advantage in the second period when Tyler Clark returned a blocked field goal attempt 76 yards for a touchdown.
After a South Lenoir touchdown cut the Hawks' lead to 9-6, Martin Braswell dove into the end zone from three yards out and gave the home team a little breathing room. Brandon Fisher connected with Anthony Miller on a 27-yard scoring strike to put the game away early in the fourth quarter.
Fisher finished with 40 yards rushing on 11 attempts and 37 yards through the air on two completions. Devonte Sutton added 40 yards on the ground for the Hawks.
North Lenoir (1-3 overall) opens Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference play at Cleveland on Sept. 16.
East Carteret 19, Spring Creek 6
* BEAUFORT -- East Carteret held off a late rally by Spring Creek for a 19-6, non-conference win on Friday night.
"I thought our defense did a good job all night," said Gators' head coach Aaron Sanders. "We played pretty well in the second half, but we just couldn't get the offense going."
Luke Miller scored the lone touchdown for Spring Creek on a pass from James Lancaster.
Spring Creek (0-4 overall) gets a week off before playing host to Holly Ridge Dixon on Sept. 23.
North Johnston 49, Princeton 20
* KENLY -- North Johnston jumped out to an early lead and never looked back in a 49-20 win over Princeton on Friday night.
The Panthers pulled ahead 8-0 in the first quarter on a 3-yard touchdown run by Malik Adams. A second scoring scamper by Adams to open the second period gave the home team some much-needed insurance. Phillip Parrish made the score 22-0 with a one-yard plunge.
Princeton tried to claw back into contention when Adrian Joyner raced into the end zone from two yards out on the Bulldawgs' next possession. Adams would have no part of it as he found Charles Sanders on a 35-yard touchdown pass to end the first half and put the game away.
Brad Williamson led the Princeton attack with 83 yards on 15 carries. Williamson also completed 12 passes for 125 yards and one touchdown. Javontae Davis finished with 68 rushing yards, 42 receiving yards and one TD.
Austin Hinton grabbed four balls for 48 yards and one touchdown.
Princeton (1-3 overall) entertains East Carteret on Sept. 16.